tdino 


uoni  Ham  #603 


DELIVERED  AT 


-O       0-4 


OF 


REV.  JOHN  M.  CUNN; 


BY 


REV.    W.    M      ROBEY. 


J ./. 


e 


pn79j 


STATESVILLE,  N.  C.  : 

rUlMJ.i)    AT   TJIE    JOU    OO'ICE    (JV    THE    UiEDLLL    L.WIU. 

1863. 


r 


.  » 


A 


JS.    IDISCOXJrLSES 


"  For  before  liis  translation  he  had  this  tcstinionv,  that  he  pleased  God." — IIeb.  11,  5. 

Surely,  no  passage  of  Hoi}'  Writ  invites  a  more  appropriate  train  of 
reflections  for  this  occasion,  than  the  one  we  have  just  quoted.  Indeed, 
it  seems  as  if  it  had  hccn  penned  for  lliis  very  hour  ;  or  rather  as  if  he, 
whom  we  now  mourn  as  dead,  had  lived  with  his  eye  ui)on  it  in  holy 
emulation  of  f  lithful  Enoch, 

Witli  wliat  wonderful  munificence  and  simple  accuracy  hath  the  Holy 
Spirit  scattered  through  the  sacred  book  the  various  delineations  of 
virtuous  character  !  Not  a  good  man  dies  but  we  are  able  to  read  his 
prominent  traits,  imaged  in  some  verse  or  lino — sometimes  in  many. — 
And  wdiat  a  consolation  this,  to  read  what  God  has  said  of  his  faithful 
servants  long  ago,  and  then  find  its  exact  counterpart  in  the  lives  of 
our  dear  departed ! 

Under  such  circumstances,  we  cannot  "sorrow  as  others  which  have 
no  hope."  We  must  look  up  and  trust  a  faithful  God,  and  feel  that 
what  he  does  is  right.  We  must  grasp,  with  new  energy  and  interest, 
the  lessons  of  instruction  which  the  book  of  Wisdom  contains  ;  and  we 
must  appreciate  more  keenly  and  sweetly  the  consolations  derived  from 
the  wholesome  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  Now  to  set  these  doctrines 
clearly  before  us — to  impress  them  indelibly  u])on  our  minds,  and  to 
lead  us  to  the  rich  and  full  enjoyment  of  their  comfort,  God  often  bids 
us  look  upon  their  exemplification  in  his  servants.  One  stands  before 
us  in  the  page  of  sacred  history,  while  the  other,  with  whom  perhaps 
we  have  been  intimately  associated,  lies  at  our  feet  in  the  embrace  of 
death,  yet  speaking  stiH,  in  words  tliat  must  l3e  heard  and  heeded. — 
Surely  God  thus  deals  with  us  to-day. 

Let  us  therefore  turn  our  minds  upon  what  he  tells  us  of  liis  servant 
Enoch.  "Before  his  translation  he  had  this  testimony,  that  he  pleased 
God.''  '^Before  his  translation" — not  at  that  time,  not  afterAvard,  but 
before  it. 

It  is  2^ossihle  then  to  please  God,  even  in  life — while  man  dwells  in  the 
flesh. 

But  let  us  remember  on  this  as  well  as  all  other  occasions  when  we 
read  God's  word,  that  it  is  God  who  speaks  to  us— ^not  in  the  dialect 
of  heaven,  but  in  the  imperfect  language  of  fallen  mortals.  We  could 
comprehend,  even  partiall^^,  no  other.  The  words  in  which  we  are  ad- 
dressed, and  the  imagery  on  which  we  look  must  be,  not  such  as  angels 
are  accustomed  to  hear  and  behold,  but  sucli  as  will  not  dazzle  or  be- 
wilder the  weakest  mortiils.  Heavenly  things  must  be  com])ared  to 
earthly.     The  mean  and  the  weak  must  represent  to  our  senses  the 


p 


IT)  1  I 


.nlorioiis  and  the  mighty.  EvcMthc  polluted  iiuist  often  fijriire  to  us 
the  pure.  When  wc  rend  therfM»)re  of  God's  ple;isurc,  or  disi)leasure  ; 
liis  anger,  or  ai)i>roval ;  his  hatred,  or  love  ;  we  must  not  imagine  that 
he  is  "altogether  such  acne  as  ourselves" — a  being  of  caprice,  passion, 
or  impulse.  These  terms  are  (mly  used  to  indicate  to  our  weak  under- 
standing the  relations  we  sustain  to  God  ;  or  rather  the  consequences 
involved  in  our  obedience  or  disobedience  to  his  law.  God  has  given 
us  a  law  as  a  rule  of  life,  and  "in  tin;  keeping  of  his  commandments 
there  is  great  reward."  "When  we  read  therefore  that  Enoch  "pleased 
God,"  we  are  shnply  to  imderstand  that  he  kept  the  law  given  him, 
and  thereby  secured  the  "great  reward.'" 

It  is  possible  th(n,  we  say,  to  please  God — to  keep  his  law — to  meet 
the  deman<ls  which  he  makes  of  us  even  in  life.  Enoch  did  it,  and  his 
example  is  a  demonstration  which  ])ears  down  all  argument  to  the  con- 
trary. Enoch  di<l  it,  and  he  was  but  a  man — a  poor,  weak,  fallen  man. 
None  will  contend  that  ho  was  more.  Enoch  did  it,  and  that  too  under 
a  dispensation  less  propitious  than  that  under  which  we  live — in  that 
blank  age  ere  God  had  written^vurd — in  tliat  dim  age  ere  the  Gospel 
had  brought  "life  .".nd  immortaJity  to  light" — in  that  profane  age  when 
"'  the  v;ickedness  of  man  was  great  in  the  earth,"  and  when  all  the 
world  but  a  faithful  few  had  bowpd  the  knee  to  Baal.  "Will  it  be  said 
that  there  was  less  requu'ed  or  more  bestoAved  in  proportion  to  circiun- 
stances  then  than  now  ?  Let  those  who  assert  it  prove  it.  Against 
the  one  stands  the  intlexible  Justice  of  God,  who  is  no  respecter  of 
[m  rsons — who  requires  neither  more  nor  less  of  one  than  another, — 
v.hose  ways  are  equal  in  all  ages  and  nations.  Against  the  otlier  stands 
lIiG  Gospel — a  dispensation  of  grace,  wherein,  not  an  angel  speaks,  but 
Christ  the  Lord,  the  Son  of  6^od,  wlio  Jiiniself  declares  the  least  saint 
to  1)0  greater  than  the  greatest  of  former  prophets. 

We  therefore  assume  without  further  proof  that,  in  as  much  as  Enoch 
pleased  6-'o<l,  it  is  possible  for  men  now,  even  tor  us,  in  the  use  of  the 
i  leans  appointed,  to  ])lease  him  also. 

God  has  done  all  things  well,  lie  has  therefore  revealed  to  man  the 
precise  manner  in  which  the  divine  approval  may  he  secured.  He  has  a})- 
jjointed  the  means  on  which  the  possibility  of  pleasing  him  depends — 
the  condition  with  wliicli  lie  promises  to  enable  every  man  to  comply, 
lii;;t  will.  We  are  told  that  "  Enoch  walked  with  God"  God  was  his 
'lido,  his  leader,  his  friend,  his  comforter,  his  daily  companion.  As  a 
-•  tlier  God  took  him  by  the  lumd,  and  lead  him  wherever  he  went, 
'raiding  his  unwary  feet  into  smooth  and  safe  paths.  Alone  as  a 
;[ ranger  and  pilgrim  in  the  earth,  God  was  his  companion  and  friend. 
Ajourneyer  through  a  wilderness,  beset  with  dangers  and  often  be- 
wildered, 6^od  was  his  guide  and  defense.  And  when  burdened  with 
;•  loud  of  grief  he  mourned  and  wept,  he  w^ould  fly  to  God  for  comfort. 


I 


'  ■    •;  '  ' 


Thus  he  "walked  with  God."  lie  'Ais  dedicated  to  God.  He  made 
no  other  calculations  but  to  serve  him  while  he  lived  on  the  earth,  and 
then  to  go  to  him.  It  is  easy  to  perceive  that  all  this  grew  out  of 
one  temper  (if,  we  may  call  it  so)  :0f  the  mind,  namely  :  faith  in  God. 
Without  faith  there  could  have  been  no  such  dedication  to  6^od.  Why 
did  he  walk  with  6^od  ?  Because  he  believed  in  him.  He  beheved 
there  was  a  6'od  and  he  trusted  in  him.  Had  he  said  in  his  heart 
"There  is  no  6^od."  it  could  never  have  been  recorded  that  "Enoch 
walked  with  God."  Had  he  believed  in  other  gods,  he  never  could 
have  been  the  servant  of  the  true  one.  Had  he  not  leaned  upon  and 
trusted  in  (}o{[,  it  could  never  have  been  said  that  he  pleased  Qod. — 
One  of  the  grandest  sentences  that  Paul  ever  wrote,  must  have  remain- 
ed forever  blank  Hence  it  is  easy  to  see  what  the  Apostle  means 
when  he  says  "v;ithout  faith  it  is  impossil)lc  to  please  Qod.''  How 
natural!  For  "he  that  cometh  to  God  must  believe  that  he  is,  and 
that  he  is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  seek  him." 

It  is  not  a  dead  inactive  faith.  It  is  one  that  expects  reivard,  and  conse- 
quently inculcates  lahor — obedience.  It  is  a  faith  like  Enoch's,  which  pro- 
duces good  works;  for  "faith  without  Avorks  is  dead," — useless,  vain.  It 
does  not  please  God.     For  obedience  is  the  soul,  the  spirit,  the  life  of  faith. 

It  is  not  because  men  say  "Lord  !  Lord  !"  that  they  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  heaven.  This  is  not  what  pleases  God.  This  may  all  be  empty  pro- 
fession— the  sound  of  brass — the  tinkling  of  a  cymbal — flattery,  deceit.  It  is 
because  for  the  Lord's  sake  they  do  the  will  of  their  Father  in  heaven.  God 
is  pleased  with  them,  not  because  tliey  say  to  the  beggar,  "  Be  thou  clothed, 
and  be  thou  warmed  and  fed,"  and  give  him  nothing,  but  because  for  the  Lord's 
sake  they  feed  the  hungry,  clothe  the  naked,  visit  the  sick,  and  do  good  to  all 
men,  even  their  enemies. 

It  is  not  because  men  call  themselves  Christians  that  they  enjoy  the  divine 
favor  ;  but  because  the  Father  beholds  in  them  the  Spirit  that  was  in  his  Son 
— "  Christ  the  hope  of  glory  formed  within  them."  But  the  spirit  that  was  in 
Jesus  was  a  spirit  of  beneficence.  "  He  went  about  doing  good."  In  no  other 
way  can  such  a  spirit  be  manifested.  The  tree  can  be  known  only  by  its  fruits. 
The  character  of  the  luminous  body  can  be  determined  only  by  the  light  it 
dispenses. 

Again.  God  is  pleased  only  with  those  instruments  which  answer  the  end 
for  which  they  were  made.  For  this  reason  in  the  beginning  he  pronounced 
the  work  of  his  hands  "good."  He  saw  that  all  things  answered  the  end  de- 
signed in  their  creation.  Man  was  created  and  redeemed  for  His  glory.  But 
"herein  is  my  Father  glorified  that  ye  bear  much  fruit," — not  that  ye  simply 
say  ye  believe,  or  cry  "Lord  !  Lord!  "  but  that  ye  show  that  ye  love  me  by 
keeping  my  commandments. 

Faith  is  therefore  the  great  condition  on  wdiich  it  is  possible  for  us  to  "please 
God."  Vain  is  every  effort  to  this  end  without  it :  and  that  an  active,  ener- 
getic faith,  producing  all  the  fruits  of  holiness,  "without  which  no  man  shall 
see  the  Lord." 

The  possibility  of  pleasing  God  is  a  doctrine /uZZ  ff  comfort  and  encourage- 
ment to  every  Christian.     To  know  that  the  God   whom  we  serve,  and  with 


whom  we  Lave  to  do,  diougli  '*  high^rxl  lifted  up,"  is  not  implacable — that  he 
regards  us  ia  such  mercy  and  love,  as  to  watch  our  ways,  and  approve  our 
works — that  he  beads  from  his  throne  to  smile  upon  mortals,  is  a  cheering 
thought.  !Much  of  human  happiness  and  christian  hope  depends  upon  this. — 
Were  there  no  divine  approval  of  any  thing  that  we  can  do,  how  sad  and  cheer- 
less the  toil  of  life  !  AVho  then  could  hope  for  heaven  ?  \Vho  then  would  long 
for  the  appearing  of  such  a  (lod  ?  Ask  that  child  flying  homeward  Avith  such 
delight  the  occasion  of  its  joy.  It  is  the  joy  of  anticipation.  A  day  has  been 
faithfully  spent.  It  hastens  to  render  its  little  account  to  an  attentive  mother, 
who  will  smile  and  say,  "  well  done."  Tluit  .'-mile,  that  word  is  worth  a  world. 
The  thought  of  it  opens  a  fountain  of  gushing  happiness  in  its  little  heart,  and 
nerves  its  limbs  with  unwonted  ener^'y.  Wow  it  strives  to  do  its  part  to  ac- 
complish well  its  task  I  How  it  sings  amid  its  toil  in  view  of  the  kind  words 
and  looks  to  be  bestowed,  when  all  is  done  I 

Ask  that  other  child  the  cause  of  its  grief.  It  has  a  father  who  never  ap- 
proves— who  never  smiles.  For  such  things  it  has  never  learned  to  hope. — 
iSternness,  severity,  and  cold  indifference  have  chilled  its  heart.  It  never 
sings — it  always  sighs.  Sadly  and  slowly  it  Avcnds  its  way  to  the  presence  of 
one  it  cannot  love,  because  he  is  never  pleased.  It  speaks  not,  with  a  bound- 
ing heart,  of  a  task  performed.  It  waits  not  for  the  word,  "well  done,"  for 
it  never  heard  that  word.  O  wretched  child  !  but  not  more  wretched  than 
every  christian  did  he  not  know  that  his  is  an  approving  God.  What  a  motive 
to  action  this,  and  how  full  of  comfort  I  We  are  children  hastening  home  to 
our  Father  in  heaven  :  not  a  stern  indifferent  father;  but  one  that  loves,  ap- 
proves, and  smiles.  Our  toil  is  often  hard  and  difficult,  but  he  sees  us  and  is 
pleased.  It  is  enough.  We  will  toil  on.  We  are  stronger  when  we  remem- 
ber that  God  is  pleased.  The  world  may  chide,  complain,  and  frown,  liut 
all  is  well.  Still  we  will  go  on,  and  still  we'll  sing  :  for  God  is  pleased.  Ere 
long  we  shall  hear  the  Father's  "well  done,"  and  behold  a  smile  that  shall 
drive  all  darkness  from  the  universe,  and  cause  new  rapture  even  among  the 
angels. 

This  divine  approval  according  to  the  text  is  a  matter  of  testimony  even  in 
this  life.  It  was  so  in  the  case  of  Enoch.  It  is  so  in  the  case  of  every  true 
servant  of  (iod.  It  is  not  only  possible  to  please  God,  but  to  know  that  he  is 
pleased.  It  is  not  only  possible  to  "keep  the  commandments,"  but  to  know 
that  we  do  keep  them.  AVhoever  docs  right,  has  the  testimony  in  himself. — 
And  right  is  but  the  sum  total  of  what  (!od  rcfjuircs. 

Our  God  is  not  an  isolated  selfish  being,  dwelling  far  off  in  the  distance  from 
his  creatures,  whose  presence  is  unapproachable  by  mortal  man.  "  His  taber- 
nacle is  with  men."  He  is  about  us,  and  in  us.  We  may  commune  with  him 
upon  our  beds  in  the  quiet  of  midnight,  and  hear  his  voice  in  the  midst  of  daily 
tumult.  "  His  Spirit  itself  hoareth  witness  with  our  spirit  that  we  are  the 
children  of  God."  That  Spirit  is  our  comforter  assuring  us  of  divine  favor — 
teaching  us  that  God  "first  loved  us,"  and  thus  leading  us  to  love  him.  That 
Spirit  is  "sent  forth  into  our  hearts  crying  Abba,  Father  ;"  and  producing 
within  us  "love,  peace,  and  joy."  Where  these  are  found  there  is  overpow- 
ering testimony  of  divine  favor. 

But  this  testimony  is  of  such  a  character  as  to  satisfy,  not  only  ourselves, 
but  others  also.  God  writes  it  by  his  spirit  in  our  hearts,  in  bright,  living 
characters — in  holy  tempers,  which  shine  through  all  our  actions,  and  the 


world  beholds  the  light.  Enoch  knew  himself  that  he  pleased  God,  ami  the 
world  around  him  knew  it.  They  read  it  in  his  life — in  all  his  words  and  acts. 
Wherever  he  went  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  in  him,  as  a  burning  lamp,  shone 
through  the  crystal  medium  of  pure  woi'ds  and  deeds,  and  revealed  to  all  ob- 
servers that  he  pleased  God.  "How  did  he  die?"  asked  one  of  a  departed 
friend.  "  How  did  he  live  ? "  was  the  reply  of  an  eminent  divine.  This  is  the 
test  that  the  world  applies.  They  appeal  to  the  life  to  judge  of  the  death.—* 
They  watch  for  the  tcstimonjj  of  divine  approval.  They  have  learned  to  re- 
gard it  as  infallible,  and  they  are  seldom  mistaken  in  their  decision. 

In  conclusion,  the  life  of  brother  Gunn  was  a  demonstration  of  all  that  we 
have  said.  He  "had  this  testimony  that  he  pleased  God."  No  man  ever  ap- 
preciated this  blessing  more  deeply  than  he  :  and  no  man  ever  shoAved  it  more 
clearly  to  the  world.  We  knew  him  well,  and  when  with  him  we  never  forgot 
that  we  were  in  the  presence  of  a  holy  man.  On  his  placid  brow  seemed  writ- 
ten in  bold  relief  "Holiness  to  tue  Loud."  The  spirit  of  christian  meek- 
ness beamed  softly  in  the  light  of  an  eye,  that  ever  sparkled  with  the  fire  of 
love.  In  every  act  and  word  was  an  air  of  humility  which  seemed  continually 
to  say  "  Thou  God  seest  me."  Yet  it  was  not  that  humility  that  folds  its 
hands  and  says  "  I  can  do  nothing."  lie  was  a  man  of  zeal  and  energy.  He 
wrought  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Ijord  as  a  servant  that  entered  at  the  eleventh 
hour,  and  would  fain  redeem  the  time  of  his  life,  which  he  considered  wasted  in 
sin.  He  felt  that  he  owed  himself  to  God,  and  was  fully  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  the  divine  maxim  :  "So  likewise  ye,  when  ye  shall  have  done  all  those 
things  which  are  commanded  you,  say,  we  are  unprofitable  servants  :  we  have 
done  that  which  was  our  duty  to  do."  He  repeated  this  passage  not  as  a  com- 
pliment to  God,  nor  in  the  way  of  affected  humility,  but  because  he  really  felt 
its  truth. 

His  soul  was  ardent,  passionate,  impulsive  ;  but  sanctified  and  subdued. — 
When  a  sinner,  he  sinned  with  all  his  might.  When  the  stroke  of  conviction 
came,  like  Saul  of  Tarsus,  he  fell  conquered.  AVhen  the  voice  of  pardon  stole 
upon  his  ear,  he  leaped  to  life,  beheld  the  cross  with  rapture,  and  never  ceased 
to  gaze  upon,  and  appreciate  its  glory  till  he  reached  the  crown.  Conversion 
with  him  was  a  perfect  change — a  thorough  and  entire  revolution — a  breaking 
of  the  soul  into  a  new  state — the  entering  upon  a  career  from  which  there  was 
no  retireing. 

He  was  not  a  sad,  sighing,  drooping  christian.  He  was  always  cheerful, 
even  under  trials  and  afllictions  that  would  have  crushed  other  men.  His  man- 
ner was  a  beautiful  illustration  of  the  poet's  sentiment : 

"Religion  never  was  designed 
To  make  our  pleasures  less." 

But  while  he  was  cheerful,  he  was  never  light  or  trifling.  He  always  remem- 
bered that  his  mission  clothed  him  with  a  dignity  above  the  follies  of  the  world. 
He  guarded  well  his  words  and  acts  lest  he  should  offend  his  God  or  damage 
his  cause.  He  served  God  not  through  servile  fear — for  his  was  not  a  mean, 
cowardly,  skulking  heart — but  because  he  loved  him.  He  lived  in  constant 
and  happy  communion  with  Him.  Like  Enoch,  he  "  walked  with  God."  Like 
him,  he  had  this  testimony,  that  he  pleased  God  ;  and  like  him  "  he  was  not, 
for  God  took  him,"  almost  in  perfect  health.  He  scarcely  seemed  to  die,  but 
simply  ceased  to  live. 

Thus  passed  away  one  whom  we  knew,  with  whose  weakness  and  follies,  as 


8 

well  as  virtues  we  were  familiar,  but  one  who,  through  grace,  was  mighty  Jh 
Israel,  and  one  who  leaves  behind  for  our  encouragement  the  testimony  thrtt 
he — weak  and  feeble  as  we — yea,  one  of  us — "  pleased  God."  And  now  as 
we  fold  his  body  softly  to  rest,  and  feel  that  wo  have  lost  a  friend  and  a  guide, 
that  shall  never  be  replaced  in  this  world,  let  us  remember,  our  Lord  has  said 
"I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless  :  I  will  come  to  you"  ;  and  let  our  hearts 
respond,  "Amen.     Even  so  come  Lord  Jesus." 

"Servant  ofCioil,  well  done  ! 
Ivest  from  thy  loved  eni|ilov. 
Tlie  battle  foupht,  the  vict'ry  won, 
Enter  thy  Master's  joy." 
The  voice  at  midnight  ranic  ; 
He  t^tarlcd  uji  to  henr: 
A  mortal  arrow  pierced  liis  frame: 
lie  foil— but  felt  no  fear. 

Tranquil  amid  alarms, 
It  fount!  liim  on  tbe  field, 
A  vet'ran  slunibc'rint;  on  his  arms 
Beneath  liiH  red-crws  whield. 
His  Bword  was  in  Iiis  hand, 
Still  warm  with  recent  fight, 
Rea<lrthat  moment  at  command 
Through  rock  and  steel  to  emite. 

Tlie  painB  of  death  are  past. 

Labor  and  eorrow  ccane  ; 

And,  life's  long  warfare  closed  at  latst, 

His  soul  is  found  in  peace. 

Soldier  of  Christ,  well  done! 

Praise  be  thy  new  employ  ; 

And  while  eternal  apes  run, 

Rest  in  tliy  Savior's  joy. 


p€RfnaliP6« 

pH8J 


